How to apply to the University of Houston for physics: the Department of Physics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers physics B.A./B.S., computational physics and computer science B.S. and a mechanical engineering dual degree, with a college standard above the university’s, and admission routes and prerequisites for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer students

At the University of Houston (Houston, Texas, a public university), undergraduate physics is offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM). Here is what you need to know, based on official University of Houston information, for U.S. students, international students and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, mechanical engineering and computer science are not covered here, except to note that the computational physics and computer science degree is jointly administered with the computer science department and that mechanical engineering students can add a physics B.S.

1. Physics degrees

• Physics B.A. and B.S.: the department lists for the B.A. mathematics 24 credit hours (nine advanced) including MATH 2413, 2414, 2318, 2415 and 3331; chemistry 8 hours (CHEM 1111, 1112, 1311, 1312); physics 31 hours (23 advanced) including PHYS 2325, 2125, 2326, 2126, 3110 and 3315, with advanced courses including 3313 and either 3312 and 3112 or 4421. The B.S. requires mathematics 24 hours including MATH 2413, 2414, 2318, 2415, 3331, 3363 or 4370, and 3364; chemistry 8 hours; and physics 42 hours (34 advanced) including PHYS 2325, 2125, 2326, 2126, 3110, 3313, 3214, 3309, 3315, 3316, 3327, 4321, 4322, either 3312 and 3112 or 4421, and six hours of advanced electives. Each degree also has a flow chart “with teachHOUSTON” for students who want to teach physics.
• Computational Physics and Computer Science B.S.: an interdisciplinary degree jointly administered by NSM, the Department of Physics and the Department of Computer Science. The department says it is designed primarily for students who plan to enter the technical workforce rather than pursue graduate study. Required courses include seven mathematics courses (calculus I–III, discrete mathematics, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics for the sciences), physics (University Physics I and II with labs, intermediate mechanics, advanced laboratory I, modern physics, quantum mechanics) and six computer science courses (programming, computer organization, data structures, software engineering and more), PHYS 4350 Computational Physics or COSC 4364 Numerical Methods, and 9 hours of advanced physics or computer science electives (at least 3 in each). A suggested year-by-year plan is posted.
• Dual degree with Mechanical Engineering: mechanical engineering students (or recent graduates) can earn a second bachelor’s degree in physics by completing 30 additional credit hours of advanced physics and mathematics; they must meet NSM change-of-major requirements. The two degrees can be done at the same time (both within 6 years) or the physics degree can begin within one year of finishing mechanical engineering and be completed within 3 years. Some mechanical engineering courses substitute for physics requirements, and a few scholarships are available to students who start the program with a completed mechanical engineering degree. The mechanical engineering degree itself is not covered here.
• Minor: 17 credit hours of physics (9 advanced) including PHYS 2325, 2125, 2326, 2126 and 3315; independent study, senior research project and honors thesis courses cannot count toward the 9 advanced hours.
• Size: the department says there are typically around 100 physics majors, about 25–30% female and 35–40% minority, and 34 physics faculty.

2. How you are admitted: the college standard is higher than the university’s

• You apply to the university first: freshman and transfer applications are processed by the Office of Admissions (and the Office of International Admissions for international students), through the Common App or ApplyTexas. The NSM page says NSM admission standards are higher than the general UH criteria, and the admissions office says some majors have additional requirements beyond the university-wide ones. After admission you can change your chosen major through the “UH Choice of Major” task in myUH, no later than two weeks before your orientation date.
• NSM freshman standard (NSM page): meet one of three assured pathways: top 10% of the graduating class; a 3.8+ GPA; or 1400+ SAT or 32+ ACT with a minimum 3.0 core GPA. High school course requirements apply as well (next section). How applicants who miss all three are reviewed is not described on the NSM page; the university-wide page says applicants who do not meet the assured criteria go to individual review using the essay and resume.
• Test optional: the university-wide pages say applicants may apply with or without SAT/ACT scores, are not disadvantaged, and must meet a different set of requirements; the policy is stated to run through 1 June 2030. The NSM table lists only SAT/ACT as a score route, so which route applies to a physics applicant who submits no score is not stated on the pages we read; ask admissions or the NSM Undergraduate Advising Center (713-743-2626).
• Moving into physics after enrolling: current UH students need a cumulative UH GPA of at least 2.50 and a UH math and science GPA of at least 2.50; for Physics (and a few other departments) at least 3 hours of mathematics at UH (Calculus I or higher) and 3 hours of science at UH. The process: take the math placement exam for Calculus I (the page says fewer than 2% of students who do not complete Calculus I in their first 30 hours graduate with an NSM degree); a score of 65–79 places you into Pre-Calculus, which with Calculus I must be finished in the first year; attend an NSM change-of-major information session; keep grades up; then email the advisor for your intended major.

3. Prerequisites and course choices

• High school courses for NSM freshmen (NSM table): biology, chemistry or physics, 2 or more units; algebra 2; geometry 1; pre-calculus 1; English 4. The department says students considering physics should have strong science and math backgrounds.
• Introductory physics: the physics major starts with PHYS 2325/2125 University Physics I and 2326/2126 University Physics II. A diagnostic exam is required for both PHYS 1301 and PHYS 2325 (20 multiple-choice questions, one hour, no calculators; algebra, geometry, trigonometry and word problems, plus calculus for 2325), worth 3% of the course grade. The department’s PDF says a score above 70% means you should be well prepared; 51–70% means review algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus; 50% or below means consider dropping or re-enrolling after improving math skills. Beginning in fall 2026, all PHYS 1301 and 2325 students have access to the ALEKS Math Prep for Physics program.
• First-semester courses: the NSM change-of-major page lists for chemistry and physics: MATH 2413 Calculus I and CHEM 1311 and 1111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I with lab.
• AP / IB: the credit page says UH awards course credit for AP scores of 3 or higher. Which physics courses AP Physics 1/2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M or AP Calculus replace is not published on the pages we read; ask the NSM Undergraduate Advising Center. IB credit was not described on the pages we read.
• Honors and undergraduate research: the physics minor page mentions honors thesis courses and NSM has a senior honors thesis guidelines page (not read). The department’s undergraduate page lists two DOE-funded year-long traineeships, NuPUMAS (neutrino physics) and NuSTEAM (nuclear science). The department home page says there are 105 undergraduates and 3 Goldwater Scholars (’20–’21). Lab requirements: the B.A. includes PHYS 3110 and 3313; the B.S. includes 3110, 3313 and 3214. Whether a thesis or research is required is not stated on the degree requirements page.
• Competitions: the site does not say how physics competitions such as USAPhO are viewed in admission.

4. How and when to apply (U.S. freshmen)

• Application and fee: Common App or ApplyTexas; the application fee is $75 ($90 for international students, nonrefundable), and freshmen can request a fee waiver. You write a short essay (Common App prompts 1, 2, 3 or 5) and list activities; you self-report your math, science, English and social studies grades in myUH, and hard-copy transcripts are not accepted.
• Fall 2027 dates (as listed): U.S. freshman application due 31 May 2027, supporting information 7 June; scholarship priority 2 November 2026 (supporting information 9 November); spring 2027 application due 1 December 2026. Supporting information includes the fee, self-reported transcript information and test scores if any; applicants without test scores also need their resume.
• Recommendations: the freshman process page does not ask for a recommendation letter; only the Tier One Scholarship application does (below). The site does not say whether a science teacher recommendation is wanted.
• Testing: optional; if submitted, the highest total is used and scores must be no more than five years old. The university-wide assured admission criteria (as listed) are top 10%, a 3.5+ GPA, or SAT 1250/ACT 26; NSM’s are higher (section 2).

5. U.S. students: costs and scholarships

• Tuition: UH is public, with resident and non-resident rates. The tuition page is headed Academic Year 2027 (which includes fall 2026, spring 2027 and summer 2027). The 4-year fixed tuition rate for NSM (listed as the “2027 Cohort”, a term the page does not explain; confirm the fixed rate for fall 2027 entrants with UH): residents $5,985.70 per fall/spring term and non-residents $14,032.64; for transfer students the 2027 fixed rates are $6,041.18 and $14,090.89. Per semester credit hour NSM is $385.59 for residents and $939.38 for non-residents. These are tuition plus consolidated fees and exclude required fees such as the Student Services Fee. The NSM college-fee table lists field camps, a chemistry equipment fee and so on, with no physics-specific fee.
• Automatic scholarships: the Academic Excellence Scholarship (2027–28 priority 2 November 2026, supporting information 9 November; fall entry immediately after high school); the Distinguished Scholarship (top Academic Excellence recipients are invited to apply); the Cullen Leadership Scholarship ($1,000 a year, no extra application); and National Merit finalists (full tuition and required fees for four years). The Tier One Scholarship (full tuition and required fees for four years plus on-campus housing and meal plan for two years) needs a separate application and a recommendation letter by 2 November 2026; UH says the top 10% with SAT 1400 or ACT 30 improves your chances, test-optional candidates are considered, and the fall 2024 average awardee had SAT 1450 or ACT 34, top 3% rank and a 3.98 core GPA.
• Texas residents: Cougar Promise (as listed): Texas residents with adjusted gross family income at or below $65,000 get tuition and fees covered, and $65,001–$125,000 get tuition support; you must submit all admission documents by 15 January and complete the FAFSA or TASFA by the Texas priority deadline; the page cites the 2026–27 forms.
• Physics department scholarships: the department’s scholarships page lists NSM scholarships, the Dr. Ki Bui Ma Memorial Scholarship, the Science and Math Mentoring Scholarship Program, teachHOUSTON scholarships for future STEM teachers, the Texas Center for Superconductivity C. W. Chu and Cora Hawley scholarships and UH Foundation scholarships; amounts and conditions were not on the pages we read.
• Other: the university scholarships page also lists undergraduate research, college-specific and learning-abroad scholarships, and a UH General Scholarship Application (2026–27 priority deadline 31 March 2026; the 2027–28 date was not on the page we read).

6. International students

• Who applies as an international freshman: non-U.S. citizens with no college coursework (or under 15 transferable hours), applying through the Common App or ApplyTexas. The site says some majors have additional requirements, including SAT/ACT scores; whether NSM international freshmen use the SAT/ACT/GPA criteria above is not stated on the pages we read.
• Dates (fall 2027): international freshman application due 3 May 2027, supporting information 10 May; scholarship priority 2 November 2026 (supporting information 9 November); spring 2027 is 2 November 2026 with supporting information 9 November; summer 2027 is 2 April with supporting information 9 April. Supporting information includes the fee, test scores if any, and official transcripts.
• Fee: $90 for international students, nonrefundable.
• Secondary records: official transcripts, mark sheets, diplomas, certificates and national or external exam scores for years 9–12 (or equivalent); non-English documents need a certified literal English translation. UH accepts an uploaded copy of official records from schools outside the U.S. to complete the application, and requires official final records after admission.
• English (one of): TOEFL iBT 4.0, IELTS overall 6.5 or Duolingo 105 (the scores as listed; the page does not name the TOEFL scale, so confirm with UH; scores expire after two years); a diploma or degree from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university (a GED does not count); the equivalent of a high school or U.S. bachelor’s education in a listed English-speaking country; or Level 6 of UH’s Intensive English Program. Transfer applicants with 30+ semester hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution including ENGL 1301 and 1302 with a C or better are exempt.
• Financial documents (for the I-20, after admission): a Statement of Financial Support form and a bank statement, each under six months old, with a minimum balance of $43,110 or equivalent.
• Scholarships: out-of-state and international students who receive $1,000 or more from competitive UH scholarships may qualify for an out-of-state tuition waiver and pay in-state rates. The scholarships page’s international section lists the Creative Biolabs Scholarship and the Jack & D’Ann Burke International Scholarship Endowment (after one full-time semester at UH, undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0).

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international freshman pages do not list gaokao results as a requirement or say how they are used. The secondary-records table for China lists the senior secondary graduation certificate (会考/高中毕业证书) and transcripts: for current students, junior middle year 3 and senior middle years 1–2 (years 9, 10, 11); for graduates, senior middle years 1–3 plus the certificate. Whether and how gaokao scores are used is not published; ask the Office of Admissions.
• Transcripts: Chinese documents need a certified literal English translation; copies of official transcripts from schools outside the U.S. can be uploaded first, with official final records after admission.
• English: the site does not list gaokao English as accepted proof; prepare TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo, or meet one of the other listed conditions.
• If you studied at a Chinese university first: submit official transcripts from every institution; a course-by-course credential evaluation (WES, ECE or TEC) is not required but can speed up GPA calculation and the decision, at the applicant’s cost.
• Interview, country page: we found no China-specific page or interview requirement.

8. Transfer students

• University-wide: with 15 or more transferable hours, a cumulative GPA of 2.50 is assured admission and 2.25–2.49 goes to individual review; with fewer than 15 hours you must meet freshman criteria.
• NSM requirements (NSM page): with 15 or more hours, 2.50 GPA in all college-level work, 2.50 in all biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics and physics courses, and 2.50 in all Category I or Category II courses. Category I requires at least one of Calculus I or II plus at least one science course for science majors (for example PHYS 1301 or PHYS 2325, or chemistry, biology or geology courses). Applicants whose out-of-state math and science credit needs evaluation may be conditionally admitted as NSM unspecified for one semester while they petition for credit and then request the change of major.
• Dates (fall 2027): U.S. transfer application due 21 June 2027, supporting information 28 June; spring 2027 is 1 December 2026 and 18 December; summer 2027 is 3 May and 10 May. International transfer: fall 2027 is 3 May and 10 May. The fee is $75 ($90 for international students) and transfer students cannot use a fee waiver.
• Credit: college-level courses with C- or better can transfer; at most 66 lower-division hours; no limit on upper-division hours, but at least 18 of the 36 advanced hours and at least 30 hours in total must be taken at UH. NSM has a transfer credit petition (about 2–4 weeks). A Transfer Credit Estimator is available.
• Transfer scholarship: the Transfer Excellence Scholarship ($1,000–$2,000 a year, fall admits with 48+ transferable hours and a 3.0 GPA; the dates on the page are for 2026–27).
• International transfers: official transcripts from every institution attended; English requirements as above.

9. After graduation

• The department’s “Considering a Physics Major?” page says about 50% of physics bachelor’s recipients go to graduate school and about 50% go directly into the workforce, and that physics bachelor’s recipients in STEM jobs earned a median starting salary of $65,000, based on 2019 and 2020 graduate data (the page’s wording).
• The same page says physics majors do better on the MCAT and LSAT than almost any other major (it links to an article; no year or range is given).

Checklist

U.S. students:

• Scholarship priority 2 November 2026; fall 2027 application due 31 May 2027; $75 fee; short essay, activities, self-reported grades
• NSM assured admission: top 10%, 3.8+ GPA, or SAT 1400/ACT 32 with a 3.0 core GPA; high school: 2+ years of science, algebra 2, geometry 1, pre-calculus 1, English 4

International students (including applicants from China):

• 3 May 2027 deadline (scholarship priority 2 November 2026); $90 fee; senior secondary graduation certificate and transcripts; TOEFL iBT 4.0, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 105
• How gaokao results are used is not published; ask the Office of Admissions

Transfer students:

• 21 June 2027 deadline; 2.50 GPA assured admission university-wide; NSM needs three GPAs at 2.50+ plus calculus and a science major course

Sources: University of Houston, Department of Physics; Physics: undergraduate programs; Physics: considering a physics major; Physics: B.A./B.S. degree requirements; Computational Physics and Computer Science B.S.; Dual degree with Mechanical Engineering; Physics: scholarships; Introductory course information; Diagnostic exam and math tutorial (PDF); NSM: admission requirements; NSM: change of major; NSM: transfer of courses; NSM: undergraduate advising center; NSM: majors and minors; Incoming freshman; Freshman admissions process; International freshman; International freshman process; International secondary records; English language requirements; Transfer students; International transfer; Transferring credit; Undergraduate tuition; College fees; Undergraduate scholarships. Deadlines are the fall 2027 dates listed on the pages; the tuition page is Academic Year 2027 (which includes fall 2026). Check the University of Houston for the latest details.